Centrifuge tube

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed to a centrifuge tube formed from molded plastic and includes a body shaped as a bellows-folded helix having a closed bottom and a syringe tip at its top. The bottom may be pierced following centrifuging of the contents by a double tipped needle so that the tube may also serve as a positive syringe to expel any desired portion of the collected solids for subsequent examination.

United States Patent [1 1 Kline 1 Jan. 23, 1973 1 1 CENTRIFUGE TUBE [76] Inventor: William M. Kline, 55 Forest Street,

Gloversville, NY. 12078 22 Filed: Aug. 3, 1970 211 App]. No.: 60,354

[52] US. Cl. ..128/2 F, 128/DIG. 5, 128/232, 128/276 1" m- --A V b1 109 5619 r 109 [58] FieldofSearch ..l28/2 R,2B,2F,DIG. 5, 128/232, 276

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,340,869 9/1967 Bane ..l28/2 3,473,524 10/1969 Drewe ..l28/2 3,570,662 3/1971 Polyak ..l28/232 X 3,181,529 5/1965 Wilburn "128/2 2,353,153 7/1944 Ferrel ..l28/232 3,424,148 l/l969 Cadeillan l ..l28/2 3,175,553 3/1965 Mattson ..l28/2 2,771,071 11/1956 Mann ..128/232 3,557,788 1/1971 Swartz.....

D194,419 1/1963 Whitton ..128/232 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 773,863 12/1967 Canada ..128/2 1,248,279 10/1960 France ....l28/232 1,493,491 7/1967 France ....128/232 1,112,715 5/1968 Great Britain ..]28/2 Primary Examinerl(y1e L. Howell Attorney-Thomas E. Tate [57] ABSTRACT This invention is directed to a centrifuge tube formed from molded plastic and includes a body shaped as a bellows-folded helix having a closed bottom and a syringe tip at its top. The bottom may be pierced following centrifuging of the contents by a double tipped needle so that the tube may also serve as a positive syringe to expel any desired portion of the collected solids for subsequent examination.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAI|23 I973 FIG. 2'

INVENTOR. W/L L IAM M- KL INE FIG.

CENTRIFUGE TUBE THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in laboratory equipment and particularly seeks to provide a novel centrifuge tube formed from molded plastic.

In certain diagnostic procedures, such as the PAP test for cancer of the cervix, the area to be tested is irrigated with a saline or other solution which is then withdrawn and centrifuged to separate the solids which are decanted for subsequent reagent or other analysis.

These procedures may be greatly simplified through the use of a centrifuge tube constructed in accordance with this invention wherein the tube contains the irrigating solution and initially serves as a syringe to collect the specimen.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a centrifuge tube formed from a smooth, non-adsorbent, inert flexible plastic having a memory and having a syringe tip at its top and a sealed bottom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a centrifuge tube of the character stated in which the body is formed as a bellows-folded helix to direct the flow of solid particles to the bottom when vortex mixed or when centrifuged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a centrifuge tube of the character stated in which the bottom may be pierced by a double tipped needle after vortex mixing or centrifuging to produce a positive acting syringe to discharge the material that has been concentrated for examination.

Another object of this invention is to provide a centrifuge tube of the character stated in which the syringe tip at the top of the body comprises a hollow needle, molded in place, so that the tube may be used to collect body fluids or tissues by subcutaneous insertion of the needle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a centrifuge tube of the character stated in which the sealed bottom is tapered by two diametrically opposed concave hollows that may serve as abutments for the posi tioning of the tube in a centrifuge and/or as abutments for the mechanical axial partial collapsing of the tube in subsequently used processing apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide a centrifuge tube of the character stated that is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects, the nature of which will be apparent, the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings, the accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a centrifuge tube constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section of the bottom thereof showing the insertion of a double tipped needle through the bottom for discharge of the concentrated material following vortex mixing or centrifuging; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section of the tip thereof when used as a hypodermic needle for the collection of fluid samples from beneath the skin.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention, as illustrated, is embodied in a centrifuge tube generally indicated 5 formed from an inert molded plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyurethane having a memory and includes a hollow body 6 formed as a helix, of say, four to sixteen turns from top to bottom.

The bottom is tapered as at 7,7 by two diametrically opposed concave hollows that may serve as abutments for positioning the tube in a centrifuge and/or as abutments for the mechanical axial partial collapsing of the tube to discharge a portion of its contents in subsequently used processing apparatus. The bottom is closed by a membrane 8 and the top is provided with an axially extending hollow tip 9 that extends into open communication with the interior of the body 6. The tip 9 may be covered by a friction cap (not shown) or other suitable closure.

In preparation for use in diagnostic tests, the body 6 is filled with the desired saline or other solution by immersing the tip 9 in a supply thereof and axially collapsing and releasing the body 6 to draw in a quantity of the solution by vacuum, after which the tip is closed.

At the point of use, the tip is uncovered and inserted into the proper body cavity which becomes irrigated as the result of using the body 6 as a positive and negative acting syringe, thus collecting the required specimens for examination. After the specimens have been collected the tube and its contents are transferred to a contrifuge where the solids are concentrated adjacent the bottom 8. The helices of the body 6 expedite the flow of solids toward the bottom during centrifuging or vortex mixing, thus assuring proper concentration of the solids in a substantially uniform distribution.

For subsequent examination and analysis of the collected solids it is only necessary to extract a portion of same by piercing the bottom membrane 8 with a double ended needle 10 (see FIG. 2) and partly collapse the body 6 along its axis to positively eject the specimen onto a slide or other analytical receiver.

In FIG. 3 of the drawings there is shown a modification that enables the centrifuge tube of this invention to be used for the subcutaneous collection of samples of blood or other body fluids. To this end a hypodermic needle 11 is molded in place at the top of the body 6 and is protected by a friction cap 12.

Since the material of the body has a memory, this modification may be shipped in an axially collapsed condition (held by a suitable clamp or restraining bracket, not shown) to the point of use where the cap 12 is removed, the needle 11 is inserted under the skin after which the restraining clamp is removed to permit the tube body to expand axially to its normal position and draw the fluid sample thereinto through the needle.

Although the centrifuge tube of this invention thus far has been described as particularly useful in a diagnostic procedure such as the PAP test, it will be appreciated that it has utility in other types of laboratory procedures. For example, vortex mixing, as distinguished from centrifuging, is frequently required. In such mixing operation the container is revolved about its longitudinal axis at a speed sufficient to create a vortex. The centrifuge tube of this invention would enhance such a mixing operation due to the helical structure of the body 6, particularly where the direction of rotation is repeatedly reversed.

Iclaim:

1. An axially collapsible and laterally distortable centrifuge tube formed from plastic and including a body penetrable membrane, the top of said body being provided with an axially extending hollow tip in open communication with the interior of said body 2. The centrifuge tube of claim 1 in which said body is formed from a plastic having a memory whereby to return to its normal configuration after having been physically distorted therefrom.

3. The centrifuge tube of claim 2 in which said plastic is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane. 

1. An axially collapsible and laterally distortable centrifuge tube formed from plastic and including a body having side walls shaped as a bellows folded plural turn helix, said body having a closed bottom including a needle-penetrable membrane, the bottom of said body being tapered on opposite sides of said membrane by two diametrically opposed concave hollows that define abutments for properly positioning said tube during centrifuging or other manipulative operations, said opposed concave hollows defining a passage therebetween positioned distally of said needlepenetrable membrane, the top of said body being provided with an axially extending hollow tip in open communication with the interior of said body.
 2. The centrifuge tube of claim 1 in which said body is formed from a plastic having a memory whereby to return to its normal configuration after having been physically distorted therefrom.
 3. The centrifuge tube of claim 2 in which said plastic is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane. 